REGION: Amtrak engineer's career touched by death

North County route reportedly one of nation's deadliest

By SARAH GORDON - Staff Writer | Monday, May 5, 2008 2:06 PM PDT ∞

Mike Guyer talks on a radio as he drives his Amtrak train through the Mission Avenue crossing, as he heads north in Oceanside during a recent run. Photo by Hayne Palmour IV, staff photographer.
An Amtrak train driven by engineer Mike Guyer pulls into the Oceanside station. Photo by Hayne Palmour IV, staff photographer.

From high in his train, driving between San Diego and Los Angeles, Amtrak Engineer Mike Guyer has a sweeping view of coastal North County.

Too often, that view includes violent death.

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Since moving here in 1995 and driving both Coaster and Amtrak trains, the 48-year-old engineer was at the controls when his train struck and killed nine people, all in San Diego County, most of them between Del Mar and Oceanside.

By comparison, in the first 13 years of his career driving Amtrak and freight routes in the Midwest, Guyer hit one person.

Guyer said he tells engineers who are thinking of taking a job on the coastal line what nobody told him: "You're moving to a place where you're going to hit a lot of people. Know that the thing is going to take a little piece of you."

Last month, two people died on the coastal rail corridor; both were ruled suicides by the medical examiner's office.

On April 18, a 46-year-old man stood in front of a Coaster train in Sorrento Valley. On April 21, a 24-year-old Oceanside man stepped in front of a southbound Amtrak in Carlsbad.

Engineers such as Guyer witness these deaths firsthand; they are emotionally jarring experiences that North County engineers apparently face more often than their counterparts around the country.

Deadly tracks

Guyer's supervisor, Ron Hyatt, said that fatal incidents are common for Amtrak engineers who drive trains between San Diego and Los Angeles. He said one engineer who spent his 30-year career on the populated corridor saw 25 people killed by his train.

A study conducted by the engineer's union, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, concluded that in a 25-year-career, an engineer on average has three fatal incidents, spokesman John Tolman said. He said the number could be much higher for operators of commuter trains in populated areas such as San Diego County.

It is difficult to assess how frequently people are struck on North County tracks compared to other areas because the Federal Railroad Administration only tracks deaths recorded as accidents, not those of apparent suicides.

But Hyatt said the route is known among engineers as one of the nation's deadliest.

The majority of rail fatalities in San Diego County over the last five years have been suicides, county medical examiner's office records show. For a five-year period ending in 2006, the last year statistics were available, there were 48 deaths involving trains ---- 30 were deemed suicides and 16 accidents. In two of the cases, the coroner failed to determine whether the death was a suicide or an accident.

This year, eight people have died on the coastal tracks from San Diego to Orange County, with five of the deaths occurring in North County, said the Sheriff's Department Rail Enforcement Unit, which patrols the corridor. Seven of those deaths were ruled suicides by the county medical examiner's office, and one is still under investigation.

A plan for coping

Guyer tells engineers new to the area to "have a plan" for how they are going to cope with a fatality.

At first, Guyer had no plan himself. Within a year of taking the job here, a man stepped out of thick bushes that Guyer said once flanked the tracks at Cassidy Street in Oceanside. The man lay down on the tracks as Guyer's southbound train went over him at about 70 mph.

"There was no time to do anything; it was just so shocking," Guyer said.

Now when Guyer anticipates that he may be about to hit someone, he pushes the emergency brake, covers his eyes and puts his hands on his ears. The noise is the worst, he said. It's a loud crunch followed by the sound of the body displacing gravel and thumping against the bottom of the train.

Guyer tried to deal with his first three deaths stoically. Veteran engineers he knew had gone through the same thing, and they were usually taciturn, he said. If the incidents were eating at them, they didn't show it.

But keeping quiet and pretending the deaths didn't bother him didn't work for Guyer, who said he experienced a range of sharp responses. Hitting people was horrible, both in the violent moment and afterward. Each time, he would hold out hope that somehow the stranger had survived and ache when he heard the bad news.

"There were times when I had some bad dreams and it kept me up all night; there were times when I went to the gym and was on the bike about three hours, just physically depleting myself until I could get some relief," he said.

Guyer said he finally realized he needed help.

"Counseling is a good thing," he said. "It doesn't mean you can't handle it; it doesn't mean you're crazy. That's the old way of thinking."

After a fatality

Several studies show a majority of train engineers suffer symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder for a few months after such an incident.

In response, rail operators across the nation offer counseling and time off, their representatives said.

Amtrak engineers are given a leave of absence and contacted by a counselor within 24 hours of an accident, spokeswoman Vernae Graham said. The rail line operates 12 trains on the coast between Los Angeles and San Diego; stops include Oceanside and Solana Beach.

Engineers who drive the Coaster commuter trains who have been involved in a fatal incident are always replaced by another operator before service resumes, said Tom Kelleher, a spokesman for the North County Transit District. The policy is also true for Sprinter engineers, he said.

Chad Cold, an engineer supervisor with the Coaster and formerly with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe freight line from San Diego to Barstow, said engineers react differently.

"Some guys lock it up inside; some guys want to talk about the whole thing," he said. "Some guys will get emotional and start thinking about the family of the person who died."

A shocking crash

Counseling, talking to a priest and sharing experiences with other engineers helped Guyer. But a fatality in September 2006 caused him to rethink his life.

His train smashed into a pickup that had rolled under the crossing arms at Leucadia Boulevard. Its driver, 61-year-old Carlsbad resident Rufino Espinoza, had probably suffered a diabetic swoon, the medical examiner's office concluded.

"It was a Friday afternoon, and I had 30 more miles to go and then I was going away for the weekend," Guyer recalled. "The truck was annihilated; some flying debris shattered my windshield, and I was in such a state of shock, I didn't even notice."

Espinoza died in the hospital several days later.

Guyer said the crash was so upsetting that he wanted to get away for awhile. He had family and a potential love interest in the Midwest, and decided that perhaps it was time to get out of Southern California.

"I certainly believed I needed a break," he said. "Once you've had a whole bunch of them, or a really bad one, even with a priest and critical incident counseling, you're going to need a break."

He went home to Kansas City, but he stayed less than a year. He said he missed California. In the spring of 2007, he returned to his route.

Connection with the dead

Despite his struggles, Guyer said he feels positive about his work here. On a recent trip, as the train gobbled up a seemingly endless line of tracks ahead, Guyer extolled his spectacular view. Through Del Mar, the train crossed a narrow rail bridge over the San Dieguito River while shorebirds crossed the sky to the Pacific. Around every bend, equally postcard-perfect scenes unfolded.

"Isn't it pretty? Where else can you see this?" he said as the train traveled just east of Swami's Beach in Encinitas.

About two months ago, in the same area, the engineer of a southbound Coaster train warned him by radio a woman who might be suicidal was standing around the tracks about a mile ahead. Guyer slowed the train and saw a neatly dressed woman in her late 30s; he was able to stop in front of her, he said.

He opened his window and called to her, "Why don't you let us get you some help? It looks like you're having a tough day."

She began to cry, he said.

"I thought this was going to be quick and easy," she wept.

Guyer said he called a rail security guard, who detained the woman until a sheriff's deputy took her into custody for a mental evaluation.

The encounter with the woman, Guyer said, was "another piece" in learning to deal with the darkest side of his work.

"It gave me an understanding that there's usually mental illness (involved)," he said. "It helped me feel compassion."

Contact staff writer Sarah Gordon at (760) 901-4076 or sgordon@nctimes.com.

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34 comment(s)[-]Go to Top

Diane wrote on May 4, 2008 12:24 AM:I feel for the Engineer and staff. These types of situations affect them the rest of their lives and they are the ones left behind along with the families of the deceased - to cope. If people would understand that trains aren't to be messed with, then there would be no more pain. This is a life sentence for both....STOP, LOOK, LISTEN!

Bill wrote on May 4, 2008 12:54 AM:People Like Mike Guyer provide a well needed service to San Diego. Personally I couldnt take a job where I knew (eventually) I would be behind the controls when someone was killed. Its easy to place blame on ones self, but the fact of the matter is, nothing could have been done to avoid it. I have seen the aftermath of a few train suicides and accidents and its NOT pretty. Keep your head up Mike.

Thanks Mike wrote on May 4, 2008 9:25 AM:for a good article. It is sad and truly shows the disconnectness someone suicidal feels to use this method to end their lives. Mental illness/depression is the cause of 99% of all suicides. Sad too that our society has such a stigma towards mental health! Mike is right- counseling has something to offer to anyone who might want it. If you are/stay depressed- get counseling. Suicide is never the answer.

Johnboy wrote on May 4, 2008 9:33 AM:Great ending to the story!!!

Stop the Madness wrote on May 4, 2008 11:00 AM:The people get depressed from the outrageous horn blasts 24 hours a day. With no sleep people do crazy things. Stop the outrageous train blasts and we will see improvement in the death rate along the tracks. Obviously the horn does nothing to prevent deaths. Try lying off the horn and save lives.

are you kidding me wrote on May 4, 2008 11:06 AM:Stop the madness. MOVE! Long before there were houses, there were train tracks. Long before you were born, there was the sound of steam. Long before you got a warped sense of 'peacefulness' there were airplanes, jack hammers and the the like. Horn blasts have nothing to do with death. Have you ever witnessed a child being almost pulvarized because he was walking on the tracks in his 'own little world' and the horn alerted him to jump? Have you ever seen a motorcyclist parked beside the flashing signals at a crossing with his ear piece in listening to music and the horn warned him to get away?
Hmmm...why do cars have horns?
Yeah...you're one of 'those' that always want to put it on someone else. You're funny, lay off the horn and save lives...that's hilarious! Get a life. The next thing would be no horns and your loved one would get killed and then you'd sue wouldn't you. Yup...you're one of 'those'.

Jon wrote on May 4, 2008 11:54 AM:Thank you Mike for your service, Thank you Sarah for the well done story. I whole-heartedly agree that Seeking help from Therapist/Counselors/Holy-person....is not in any way a weakness. Our minds/hearts are incredibly powerful, but at times that power can run amok. I don't believe anyone is ready for everything life throws at us. Seeking counsel is really a way to educate ourselves further about the power of our own mind...and can unlock potential you didn't know you had. It takes a very strong person to take on the responsibility of driving a train full of people...it takes an even stronger person to admit we all need help sometimes.

To: "Stop the Madness"
The fact that you are relating a train horn to serious mental illness only shows a deep level of ignorance. If you have discovered that the train horn is affecting you that badly, maybe you should take some action and move...or maybe you have some deeper issues you should get counseling on. Maybe some are not cut-out to live near the tracks!

JDK wrote on May 4, 2008 12:32 PM:The fact that people like "stop the madness" can even have the guts to say that the horns cause the problem makes me sick. Having witnessed almost pulverizing somebody more than once through the windshield of a locomotive on this line, I can tell you that the horns are a necessity. It's amazing how many people don't know the train is coming. This rail line has been here going on 123 years and if you don't like the horns, move! You have that ability!

Very good article Sarah, it helps the public realize what a locomotive engineer goes through after a fatality.

Johnny wrote on May 4, 2008 3:16 PM:This is a message to everyone reading this mind-bending, heart-wrenching story: please look over all those persons you care about. If you see signs of distress, please get them help. Even if you just talk to them, or refer them to someone who can. Call 911 if you see anyone walking/loitering around RxR tracks. You may save a life!

Diane wrote on May 4, 2008 4:56 PM:My father was a locomotive engineed for 45 years and as a child, I remember the effects these types of incidents had on him. Personally, I find hip hop, rap and loud mufflers to be much more of an issue with 'peace and quiet' than I would even dream of with train whistles. And a baby having a temper tantrum in a store is beyond dealing with.

I suggest stop the maddness get help...to stop their maddness.

DUH!

Bob wrote on May 4, 2008 5:06 PM:The trains near the coast may have made sense 200 years ago when the coastline wasn't developed and home to 1 million residents and 10 of million visitors each years. No the tracks are more of a liability than an asset. They need to be moved to I5 cooridor away from the coast. The horns do nothing except noise pollution as shown by the numereous death. Stop the senseless horns and watch the death count drop.

Karen wrote on May 4, 2008 5:38 PM:Thank you, Mr. Guyer, for your story. Reading it was like putting a "face with a name". Engineers are real people with real emotions and suffer when someone ends their suffering on the train track in front of them. Great story. God Bless! Safe Travels!

Jane wrote on May 4, 2008 6:56 PM:I have an idea

Lay off the horn. They don't do anything but get people pissed at trains going 70 mph right through populated beach areas.

Roz wrote on May 4, 2008 7:22 PM:I have an idea for Jane.
Lay off the thinking.
Rent a U Haul and move inland. There you can relax and quit thinking about train horns.

LAWSON............ wrote on May 4, 2008 8:18 PM:Mike Guyer was my engineer when I worked
for Amtrak.This article is both chilling
and truthful...."Show me a Hero",F.Scott
Fitzgerald said "and I will write you a
tragedy...this article points out that
heroism and tragedy arrive together...
after a fatal incident or suicide...we
the riding public owe a debt to engineers'
like mike Guyer that can never be repaid!

Jane wrote on May 4, 2008 8:41 PM:Right. I think someone is going a bit overboard. The big debt is called a union Paycheck. Get a life. Its their job. They can quit at anytime and be a grocery store checker or something equivelant.

Al wrote on May 4, 2008 9:44 PM:I recently retired after a 36 year railroad career. Like Mike I have had my share of incidents in the midwest, 13 fatalities or of 6 at a grade crossing and another of 4 also at an unprotected farm crossing. The one suicide was the worst. I'm glad that now help is available in my days you just went and worked a job in the freight yards for a while.

Manny wrote on May 4, 2008 10:18 PM:To the folks that want us engineers to lay off the horn why don't you learn the law? Federal regulations require us to do what we do. If we don't, we risk discipline or fines if we hit somebody. If I whack your relative wouldn't you want me punished if I didn't do my job properly? I hate the noise too. And I'm just a few feet from it. Want the tracks moved to I5? You pay for it. You don't see me going to your work and telling you how to flip burgers.

Bubba wrote on May 4, 2008 10:26 PM:Don't you just love these NIMBY yuppies like Jane who move to an area with trains that have been running for 100 years and then rant and rave about the horns. Of course if a train that didn't blow it's horn hit a loved one of hers she would be consulting with an ambuilance chasing attorney right now. As long as it's somebody else that is getting hit she doesn't care...just don't interrupt her nappy time.

To Jane wrote on May 5, 2008 6:45 AM:Jane,
There are always some who under-appreciate what people do and it's a reflection of your own self not appreciating what you do in life that affects others. Police officers regularly put themselves in the line of fire for the sake of public safety. Fire fighters run into a burning building where others are running to get away from it. Their goal? To minimize the continued risk of public safety. Airline pilots and train engineers regularly transport large groups of public travelers and they are ultimately responsible for your safe arrival at your final destination. It's a lot of risk to bear on one person's heart.

Now in the case of Mr. Guyer, I have personally witnessed the death of a person on Highway 78 and let me tell you, it affected me even though I wasn't even the person who hit the guy. It puts a burden in your heart like no other because it's about PRECIOUS life. Now... I'm no life fanatic, but it does have an impact.

Now, maybe you don't understand because maybe you haven't had that type of impact in your life; and hopefully, you will never have to experience it. However, for one to experiencing it 9+ times thus far in their career, I'm certain it has it's impact.

Tax paying Commuter wrote on May 5, 2008 9:22 AM:To Bob and Jane and other idiot NIMBYS if you want the train horns stopped I suggest you pay for liability insurance to cover all the costs including 2 to 4 hours of lost time I and other tax paying commuters and crews are forced to endure.
Or you could pay for razor wire fence to keep these stupid trespassers off the tracks!
You might also take turns and guard the rails from these stupid trespassers that force the engineer to blow the horn

Re Stop the madness wrote on May 5, 2008 10:08 AM:Hey buddy get yourself some earplugs, they work wonders. The silcon puddy ones are the best. We need our railroads because if it were not for them we would not have as much food, fuel, and other things that makes life easier.

Anti Knuckleheads wrote on May 5, 2008 10:29 AM:Wow, a story about an engineer and death turns into knuckleheaded comments by bloggers on everything from taxes to horns to grocery clerks. Pretty typical response if you look at the comments to other stories. The "knucks" find it hard to not drag their anti this, or taxpayer that comments to the forefront. Not that they serve to do anything but sit there as another nonproductive rant on something that frustrates them. But I stray - Mike, keep your head up; nice work on stopping to help the woman in distress. Jane - you really should think about the U-Haul. I hear Julian is quiet.

To Stop the madness wrote on May 5, 2008 11:01 AM:I lived right by the tracks in Oceanside for 13 years, very few trains run at night. I did not loose any sleep over it. If you are that sensitive, MOVE.

Becky wrote on May 5, 2008 12:58 PM:Obviously there are people that dont think to much. You can have trains without horns throughout north county. Just lower the tracks like in Solana Beach. And to the person preaching to Jane. you are making the assumption Jane in not exposed to death herself. Thats a big assumption. And you should know what they say about "assume"- it make an __s out of you and me.

Crew Management wrote on May 5, 2008 2:25 PM:Mike is a friend of mine we have worked together for over 15 yeas and yet we have never met in person. I also know hundreds of other Engineers and Conductors which I have befriended over the years some I have the pleasure to meet. I Really don’t think people understand the true impacted that something like this has on all of us working for the railroad. You see I work in Crew Management thousands of miles away from where Mike and all the other train crews are. Yet every early very morning I’m the voice they hear calling and waking them to go to work. Now just imagine yourself calling someone and explaining there assignment for the days work. Then a few hours later finding out where you sent them is where someone decided they could not handle life anymore!!!
Next the phone conversation you will be having coming after the incident. Is where you get to hear the tone of there voice some cracking, shaking and you can feel them fighting to hold back tears. The whole time in the back of your head think I’m the one that sent them to this fate today…
So remember the next time your late and decide to go around that crossing or you can’t take life anymore all the lives you may be effecting and think!!!!! Not only us but more important possibly a baby in the car seat behind you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for the well needed article I have read the comments from people some intelligent some not.

JD wrote on May 5, 2008 5:46 PM:Good artical about a tough job. As an Engineer with almost 20yrs, I can say I too have seen my share of accidents. For the idiots that complain about the horn....MOVE. The train has the right of way, and it is the Law to blow the horn as a warning, and at crossings. People that move next to a railroad track and then complain about the noise are about the most ignorant people I know.

Tracy wrote on May 5, 2008 7:36 PM:I was just on a train yesterday that a person stepped in front of to commit suicide (near New Brunswick, NJ). I have been so worried about the engineer, and I felt so comforted to read this article. I'm so glad that Amtrak provides special services for its engineers when this happens.
I was in the first car behind the engine, and the sound and grinding sensation will be with me forever.

bert wrote on May 5, 2008 10:08 PM:If you cant stand the heat, become a store clerk. What a waste of paper space.

Patty wrote on May 6, 2008 11:58 AM:I am Mike's cousin and would just like to say that Mike has got to be one of the most loving people to walk on this earth.The men who drive those trains are a rare breed. They know the job can have emotional times but they know that someone has to get the people from place to place.They have to live with the fact that they will be taking lives.That is not east to deal with but they do in their own ways.For BERT and his comment I would like to see you go do that job you are a weak indivual to make a remark like that.This was not a waste a paper, just trying to make people aware of what it is like to deal with death.Something you apparently know nothing about.

Jacob wrote on May 7, 2008 8:24 PM:OH My...let the bleeding hearts have their place on the news paper.... just like Britney Spears....not very educational or newsworthy in my opinion.

Fred wrote on May 7, 2008 8:26 PM:Why doesn't NCTimes do a story about the poor family whos relative got killed by the train when he was trapped in by people in front and behind him.

Railroader wrote on May 8, 2008 3:17 PM:Jacob and Fred and anybody else who reads this, this actually is a very educational piece. It points out to the people who read this that when a train passes you it's not "just a train", it's a human being controlling a train. When you act like an idiot around the tracks its that human being who suffers the mental anguish of knowing they were indirectly responsible (or not in any case) for your death, or injuries.

Fact is there are rarely any pieces which show this side of railroad deaths, most articles I've read are eulogies about the people hit, and never mention what happened to the train crew involved.

We railroaders love our jobs, and most will not leave willingly to do anything else because nothing comes close to what we do... And yes, there's a certain risk involved as with any job to be honest, we all know about it from day 1 and are reminded every time there's an incident or even a close call. It doesn't mean we have to like killing people, and thus most of us try to lobby against stupidity around the tracks. This is probably one of the best railroad articles to ever grace this paper.

Mike, Ron, and Sarah, thanks for bringing this piece to the public...

selfish wrote on May 9, 2008 5:42 AM:thats to bad,it just goes to show you how selfish people are. not only taking thier own lives but seriously effecting
someone elses good riddance

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